Sloane Stephens wins US Open for her maiden Grand Slam title
Unseeded Stephens beats fellow American Madison Keys 6-3 6-0
Stephens was ranked 957 in July having had foot surgery
Keys 2-1 *Stephens
Madison Keys is twonking the ball hard and true, the sound of the ball off the strings is a deep, regular bassline.
It is a tune that is difficult for anyone in the women's game to dance to.
Sloane Stephens needs to get Keys concentrating on her footwork, make her move and prevent her teeing off big from the back of the court.
On serve as they sit and sip at the first changeover.
Image source, Getty Images
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows
We are told that the heavy strapping on Keys' right thigh, which she took a medical timeout for in her semi-final, is just precautionary. If that is the case, then this match could well come down to whether Keys can keep her error count below her winners.
Pat Cash, coach of Coco Vandeweghe, said they had been waiting for Keys to start spraying errors in their semi-final, but it never happened. "She was playing Serena-level tennis," he said.
*Keys 1-1 Stephens
And that was a good display of what makes Sloane Stephens special.
The 24-year-old's father was an NFL running back and she purrs around the court like a vintage race car, running down Keys groundstrokes and finding the open spaces.
Both players look locked in and ready to go. No wobbles out of the blocks.
Image source, AFPKeys 1-0 *Stephens
Madison Keys' serve arm is swinging loose and free.
Two wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am aces on her way to 40-15.
Amid the heavy artillery, a rally finally breaks out.
But Keys has the upper hand, milking the mistake out of Sloane Stephens to get on the board with plenty to spare.
An impressive set of opening remarks from Keys.
* means next to serve
Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live sports extra at Flushing Meadows
It’s so exciting for American tennis and the development of American tennis hinges on players like this.
Having the next leaders, the next players who younger players can look up to and for the next coaches to tell their players to aspire to.
Image source, Getty Images#bbctennis
Keys v Stephens
Madison Keys was imperious in her semi-final win over Coco Vandeweghe, putting on a masterclass of power ball-striking.
Sloane Stephens was pushed harder by Venus Williams, but showed rock-steady concentration to oust the old campaigner in three sets.
This is a real pick-em contest.
Keys to serve first.
Here we go.
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Keys v Stephens
Image source, Getty ImagesThe crowd have already been revved up by a star-spangled spittle-spattered all-American pep rally.
Sydney James Harcourt, a star in the broadway musical Hamilton, is on patriotic warbling duties this evening.
A bit of a last-minute call up for Harcourt after Sara Bareilles, originally slated to do the honours, cried off sick.
Bareilles' appearance was a nice little tie-in for the forthcoming Borg-McEnroe film for which she had written a song.
Keys v Stephens
The two players have just strolled out, clutching a bouquet of lurid flowers each.
The stadium MC gets his tongue right around the multiple vowels in each name.
"Slooooooane Steeeeephens" gets a loud cheer from the crowd.
"Madisoooon Keeeeeeeys" perhaps registers even a touch higher on the decibel meter.
The players have just done their one-minute pre-match interviews, here's what they had to say:
Sloane Stephens: "I just want to have fun, enjoy it, and keep the feet moving. I want to enjoy the moment and take it all in."
Madison Keys: "It's difficult facing a real friend but who better to be out there against. I'm looking forward to it."
Keys v Stephens
Image source, Getty ImagesWhoever emerges victorious from today's match will pick up the biggest cheque in tennis history.
Each champion will scoop a record $3.7m (£2.8m) prize money, with the runner-up having to make do with half that amount.
The total prize pool for the tournament is a stonking $50.7m (£38.2m).
For reference Roger Federer and Garbine Muguruza walked off with £2.2m each for winning their Wimbledon title this year with the All England shelling out a total of £31.6m.
Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on Radio 5 live at Flushing Meadows
They have done a great job coming back from injury and finding their best tennis. They've been erratic in the past but have put it together here.
Now that Serena has stood aside maybe other players feel they have a chance and that has helped them step up a level.
Keys v Stephens
Image source, Getty ImagesA stat that pretty much sums up this box-of-frogs US Open:
The combined ranking of the world number 16 Madison Keys and world number 83 Sloane Stephens - a grand total of 99 - is the lowest for any US Open final since computerized rankings began in November 1975.
One quick caveat - in 2009 Kim Clijsters, unranked after making her comeback following the birth of her first child but already a five-time Grand Slam champion, beat world number eight Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
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Keys v Stephens
No dress rehearsal for the main protagonists, but the extras have run through their lines out on Arthur Ashe.
As well as live text commentary just here, we have the radio version via the BBC Radio 5 live team in New York.
Have a click at the top of this page to get listening from 21:00 BST.
Keys v Stephens
Just the one previous meeting between these two.
It came in Miami in 2015 with Stephens running out a fairly easy winner, 6-4 6-2.
Stephens has racked more miles on court en route to the final with a grand total of 11 hours and 35 minutes out on court, compared to Keys' nine hours one minute.
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows has an excited buzz about it this afternoon, with the main Plaza packed out in the hour or so before the gates to Ashe were opened. Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier was out and about interviewing fans, while ball kids carried patriotic paraphernalia towards the stadium for the opening ceremony.
It's sunny, so the roof will be open, but there's an autumnal chill and we're expecting temperatures to barely nudge 20C and drop fairly quickly.
Image source, BBC SportKeys v Stephens
Image source, Getty ImagesWilliams, Keys and Stephens all hung out together as part of the United States Olympic team in Rio last summer.
Williams featured the younger pair trading the commemorative pin badges on her Instagram account.
Now, both in their first Grand Slam final, one of them is going to start their collection of tennis' big pots.
Keys v Stephens
Image source, ReutersWhen you have Serena Williams delivering the hype, you don't need me.
"There are NO words to describe how proud and how happy I am for @Madison_Keys, external and @SloaneStephens, external for making the US open finals," wrote the six-time champion.
"These amazing women continue to change the game and bring excellence, power, finesse and change to tennis.
"What a joy it will be to watch this- hopefully first of many finals. Let's go ladies!"
We are a little over 15 minutes away from the off.